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Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin targets four new players after calling in squad for extra training

Hakan Hayrettin is targeting four new signings after Maidstone’s capitulation at Wrexham.

Hayrettin was so disappointed with the manner of their 5-0 defeat at the weekend he called the players in for extra training on Monday to thrash things out.

Maidstone's afternoon goes from bad to worse at Wrexham Picture: Steve Terrell
Maidstone's afternoon goes from bad to worse at Wrexham Picture: Steve Terrell

Four games into the National League season, the Stones boss, whose side lost 4-2 to Dorking last week, has seen enough to know changes must be made.

“I’m trying to bring four in,” said Hayrettin, with Maidstone hosting Torquay on Saturday before travelling to Aldershot on Bank Holiday Monday (both 3pm).

“I’m not panicking, I’ve just seen what I need now.

“I know we’re going to be all right this season but if I don’t do my job and start ironing things out, like I did last season, people are going to think it’s OK, but it isn’t.

“I’ve got standards that I adhere to and those standards have got to be met.

“The minimum requirement is they’ve got to work as hard as they possibly can.

“I’m just doing my job. If I can get better, I will, but I brought these lads in, I brought everything together, it’s my job to make sure I get the best out of them.”

Monday is normally a day off but Hayrettin wanted answers after Wrexham.

The Dragons’ spending power as title favourites is no secret - Hollywood actor owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were at the game - but Hayrettin couldn’t accept the way Maidstone collapsed.

“I’m not standing for that,” said Hayrettin, who apologised to the 200 travelling fans in a crowd of almost 10,000, and told his players to do the same.

“We probably played the favourites to get promoted with a budget 10 times as big as ours.

Hakan Hayrettin and Terry Harris can't believe what they're watching Picture: Steve Terrell
Hakan Hayrettin and Terry Harris can't believe what they're watching Picture: Steve Terrell

“One of their players is on £13,000 a week, we know him because I had him at Luton, and he was on the bench.

“They signed a boy from Southend for £125,000 or £150,000 and he was on the bench.

“Their budget is huge but, that aside, we’ve conceded three goals from restarts - two from corners and a penalty.

“When was the last time we did that? We don’t do that. If we play Wrexham again tomorrow, it’s a different game.

“I’m sitting there after 20 minutes thinking we’re going to get stronger but we crumbled, and that’s out of character.

“I’ve been in this position before and it isn’t as if we’re bottom and we’re getting relegated, there’s a long way to go, but I need to rectify it now.

“I don’t feel it’s OK just because it was Wrexham. Why should I?

“I understand we’re at a different level now but I also understand that without the ball we’ve got to work as hard as we possibly can, and that was our strength last season.

“Our strength was our work rate and now we’ve got to work.

Another goal for Wrexham at the Racecourse Picture: Steve Terrell
Another goal for Wrexham at the Racecourse Picture: Steve Terrell

“We’ve got to get back to basics and we’ve got to work as hard as we possibly can and our quality will come through.

“No one’s safe, because I can’t tolerate people not giving me what they’ve got.

“If they can’t give me what they’ve got then I get upset.

“It doesn’t matter if we’re playing Wrexham, Barcelona, whoever, give me what you’ve got and there’s no complaints.

“But to concede some of the goals the way did, that’s what hurt me.

“We are so thorough, me and Terry (Harris, No.2), at organisation at set-pieces but we conceded three goals from restarts.

“It was 1-0 up until the 40th minute and then we collapsed.

“I pulled them in on Monday because of Saturday.

Maidstone players thank the 200 travelling fans at Wrexham Picture: Steve Terrell
Maidstone players thank the 200 travelling fans at Wrexham Picture: Steve Terrell

“They know what I’m like, they know what I expect and if I don’t get what I expect, I need to know why.

“I’m a players’ manager firstly, I’ll give them everything I’ve got but when they don’t give me something in return, and I feel like they’re letting me down then I’m going to let them know.

"We need to repay the supporters with some type of performance."

Hayrettin has confirmed left-back Jerome Binnom-Williams will be out for up to two months after a knee operation.

Sol Wanjau-Smith (also knee) is closing in on his first appearance since signing from Hungerford although this weekend is likely to come too soon.

United are also trying to get to the bottom of Raphe Brown’s ankle problem that goes back to last season.

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